I don't take steroids for an exacerbation. Took them once, and my tongue swelled up and blocked my airway...so no more for me. I just wait out exacerbations. Even if I could take them, I'd probably forego them at this point in my life as I'm starting to deal with some osteopenia according to my bone scans, and steroids can lead to osteoporosis.

I was thinking that also, but was afraid to say it

Obviously, we have differeing views on this topic

Now wouldn't that make for a lively conversation

Most certainly! But we would still be friends at the end of the day!

I am assuming IVSM = IV steroid meds? I'll have to look for the abbreviations.

I have read 2 books already, everything on the NMSS page (printed out most of it for my family as well). And alternative pages and a host of other pages..LOL I am a research fanatic, and when I get something to research I don't stop till I have found the answer to every single questions I want. I researched Gastric bypass for 4 years - 2 for my mom, then 2 more for me. I researched my doc for about 6 months and I had the best!!! LOL

Your history really puts things in perspective for me when it comes to this disease. Do they think you had this a while before you were diagnosed? Do you use a DMD? And if you don't mind (I know us women never tell our age) how old were you when you were diagnosed?

Thanks for the info =)

I have no problem answering your questions. In fact, if you go to the Community Feedback Forum, you can read my Bio since I am a moderator (but not in this forum.) I post here as a member of the forum, not as a moderator!

IVSM = IV SoluMedrol = IV methylprednisolone.

I was dx'd in 2001 after an acute exacerbation that left me paralyzed and numb from the waist down for 3 weeks. About 2 months later I had another exacerbation that clinched my dx. No previous hx. I was 48 and had gone back to college full time. I am now 55. I have been on Betaseron, Beta + Methotrexate, Tysabri, and Copaxone. I am currently in a clinical trial for Tovaxin. So far, nothing has slowed down the rate of exacerbations until the last two years. I have gone from 4+ to 2 per year. I have not progressed to SPMS, but right on the verge. Since I have been in this clinical trial, I have no been privvy to my MRIs and blood work, nor do I know if I am receiving placebo or real drug, it's a double blind trial.

My exacerbations leave me totally non-functional. As my neuro puts it, I am either 100% or zero. I work full time and so not being able to function is not an option. Waiting out the exacerbation is not an option for me. I tried that once, and it only got worse so my theory is get started on IVSM and stop the inflammation as soon as possible.

I have annual bone density scans, and they have been great. No signs of bone deterioriation whatsoever.

I am not a candidate for IViG to treat exacerbations due to my long list of allergies.

Each of us is different and we all react differently to meds...we all choose our own method of treatment. It's a personal choice. I respect everyone for their choice...

Comment on Lady's post....not everyone has the same reactions to steroids...I for one have almost the exact opposite reactions as most people do...and they do help me recover quickly from the exacerbation. That's why I choose to go that route. As I already stated...each of us is different...it's a personal choice. I respect everyone's choice.

That is a great accomplishment for you...Congratulations! I have been at it for almost 2 years and have shed 120. To be where I would like to be I would need another 30. But if I never lose another pound, I feel very happy with my size now. I had never been heavy until after I had my 4th child. Got real depressed about some things in my personal life and .... well.... tried to eat my way into comfort for years. I was never a yo-yo dieter.... just kept eating.... didn't care about anything. Well, true confessions!!! I'd better shut-up.

Have been on and off steroids for my lungs and this MS, each time I say no more, then i get so far down, it helps, so what do u do. but even the doc said no more oral next does will be iv which I have no idea what to expect other than when I was in one time getting these massive doses of steroids injected but i was so far down hat time I don't recall much of it,

I get so tired of the weight gain from both types of roids, I try and try carrots salads low sugar carbs ect...

I get so hungry on these things arggghhhhh

so I am going to look into a few of the suggestions on here as an alternative,, cause u know dam well in ten yrs we will hear, oh and test show steroids cause this or cause that..... I believe the I will over come the flair sx or signs myself in my own pace, is where i am leaning to wards, have been do this lately

doing my best to cut down on the amt of pills i consume for my ms and doc agrees with me i am not a big pill person, its not an answer , its a band aid, therein lies my problem, I need to be a bit realistic too some of this stuff there is only a band aid for help so .......... what to do what to do

this will be my last time too, I had a melt down this time due to the large amount of roids and the fact i was having a wee bit of trouble mentally with this relapse flair exacerbation thingy, whatever you want to call it. this time it attacked my other side of my body so that was freaking me ,the steroids where pumping me ,and I did actually grab the keys and take a long drive other night, so we all agreed here, No one likes me on roids when i get past my zenith, and worse of all I don't like me when I am all pumped up on them, now i hear others say they sleep on these things, all the time, yes i did too at first cause I was so MS wiped out, but as i progress the roids , I hate em cause they work for me and i hate em cause of what they do to me,

probably could of saved a lot of typing and typed that last line right away

you all have happy Sunday


peace

Frank thanks for sharing your frustration. I hope it helped a bit to get it out. One thing I do know is if you take them for your lungs for COPD or something of the sort, they do benifit. I know, I hate to say that!!! I sound so hypocritical (saying they help in one instance but don't want to take them myself).

You have a great Sunday also!

You are the perfect person for whom the band would work!!! Congrats on your loss, you are not far behind me!! I have been at it 18 months!! I have been heavy all my life and dieted my way up to my heaviest I was a binge eater, and, well, just LOVED food. I have a much healthier outlook on food now - well, most of the time.

Just like finding out about the MS. Had I not had GBP, I would have gained 10 pounds in the last week from comforting myself. This can not happen (I actually shed 2 pounds ) now, and instead I turned to research!

Good luck with the last 30 pounds. You can do it... Maybe we ought to work together to reach our goals =)